Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now
New Zealand’s transport system covers air, sea and land. This includes freight, commercial and personal transport. It also covers new forms of transport, for example drones and electric scooters.
The impacts of transport planning and investment decisions often continue for decades, or centuries. We take a long-term, and integrated approach to transport, considering how the system impacts people and products, health, economic prosperity, global connectivity, how easy it is to live in our towns and cities, and the quality of our environment.
Having a clear strategic direction helps us know where we are heading, how we will get there and how we will deliver on our ultimate purpose: enabling New Zealanders to flourish.
That strategic direction is underpinned by Hei Arataki, our Māori strategy to deliver improved transport outcomes for Māori.
Our ministry was created in 1968 and has since evolved to become the steward of the transport sector. We take the lead to improve our transport system, we collaborate with our partners and together we all shape the future of transport.
We work with a number of agencies across the transport sector. While each agency has its own areas of responsibility, we work together, developing and maintaining relationships to shape the future of transport.
Our government transport partners
We manage the appointment of board members for transport Crown entities and statutory bodies. Find out how to register your interest and apply.
We carry out reviews on behalf of the Minister of Transport and also commission external agencies to undertake reviews that identify best practice and suggest how we can improve our performance. The reasons for a review can vary depending on circumstances.
As the steward of the transport regulatory system, we work with other transport agencies to develop and administer the regulatory framework for the transport sector.
Transport regulatory stewardship
Working in collaboration with the transport regulatory agencies, we are the stewards of the dangerous goods regulatory system in New Zealand. The system ensures dangerous goods are transported safely and effectively around the world.
To ensure there is enough revenue to pay for planned land transport expenditure, we forecast revenue likely to come from:
We do the forecasts at least twice a year and they are included in Treasury’s fiscal updates.